decrease outlays

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decrease outlays" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in financial or budgeting contexts when discussing the reduction of expenditures or spending. Example: "To improve our financial health, we need to decrease outlays in non-essential areas."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For instance, it implies that a reallocation of funds that decrease SSDI wait may decrease outlays for SNAP and therefore decreases the overall costs of reducing SSDI wait times.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

However, their effectiveness results in reduced hospital stays, thus potentially decreasing total outlay.

Health Economics Review

Rather than decrease military spending, the plan reduces projected outlays elsewhere.

Huffington Post

Grenada's surplus of US$17 million became a deficit of $54 million, thanks to decreased revenue and the outlays for rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Huffington Post

And, perhaps, with a bit of luck, we can win big and boost relevance, engagement and completion rates while simultaneously decreasing our financial outlay.

Huffington Post

"Defense outlays are expected to decrease by $30 billion (or 4 percent) in 2012, to $669 billion — the first decline since 1998," the report said.

The New York Times

In March 1994, the State Senate, controlled by Republicans, passed a bill forbidding cities to decrease their own contribution when the state raised its outlay.

The New York Times

Establishing the NHIS would require greater public outlays to cover the projected reduction in OOP payments.

BMC Health Services Research

A drop in outlays on public works and home improvements led the November decline, the largest since spending fell 0.7percentt in July, the last decrease.

The New York Times

Government outlays continued to rise.

The New Yorker

But perhaps such outlays aren't necessary.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for financial prudence, use "decrease outlays" to specifically denote a reduction in expenditures, particularly in formal or economic contexts. This phrase is suitable for strategic planning and reporting where financial precision is valued.

Common error

Avoid using "decrease outlays" in informal conversations or when a more general term like "cut costs" suffices. Overusing formal language in casual settings can sound unnatural and pretentious. Consider audience and context before opting for this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease outlays" functions as a verb-noun combination where "decrease" acts as a verb specifying the action to reduce, and "outlays" serves as the noun referring to the expenditures or costs that are being reduced. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, particularly in financial contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decrease outlays" is a formal phrase used to describe the reduction of expenditures, often within financial or economic contexts. Ludwig AI indicates that it's usable in written English. While grammatically correct, it's relatively rare and best suited for professional communications, strategic planning, and financial reports. Alternatives such as "reduce expenditures" or "cut spending" may be more appropriate in informal settings. The phrase is valuable for its precision in formal discourse but should be used judiciously to avoid sounding unnatural in casual conversation. The limited number of examples suggests the need to consider context carefully when employing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce expenditures

Focuses on making expenditures smaller, similar to decreasing outlays but broader in scope.

cut spending

Directly implies a reduction in the amount of money spent, maintaining a very high similarity to decreasing outlays.

lower expenses

Refers to bringing down the cost of something, similar to decreasing outlays which directly addresses reducing financial expenditures.

trim allocations

Implies reducing the amount of resources or funds allocated for specific purposes, much like decreasing outlays reduces overall spending.

curtail disbursements

Focuses on limiting the distribution of funds, similar to controlling or reducing outlays.

scale back investments

Indicates a reduction in the size or scope of investments, indirectly reducing outlays related to those investments.

downsize budgets

Addresses the reduction of budget sizes, linking directly to controlling financial outlays and expenditures.

minimize costs

Emphasizes the goal of achieving the lowest possible expenses, closely related to the objective of decreasing outlays.

rationalize spending

Implies making spending more efficient and reducing unnecessary expenses, aligning with the purpose of decreasing outlays.

economize resources

Highlights the efficient and thrifty use of resources, which involves reducing overall financial outlays.

FAQs

What does "decrease outlays" mean?

The phrase "decrease outlays" means to reduce the amount of money spent or disbursed. It's often used in financial, economic, or budgeting contexts.

How can I use "decrease outlays" in a sentence?

You might say, "The company plans to "reduce expenditures" and "decrease outlays" in the next fiscal year to improve profitability."

What are some alternatives to "decrease outlays"?

Alternatives include "reduce expenditures", "cut spending", or "lower expenses". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "decrease outlays" formal or informal?

"Decrease outlays" is considered a formal phrase suitable for professional, academic, or financial contexts. Less formal options include "cut spending".